Rail anchor



Jan. 5 1926.

R. A. BLAIR RAIL ANCHOR Filedoct. 20, 1924 Palenteddan. 5, 1926.

" UNITED sTArEs nonenms n.

,PATENT OFFICE.

BLAIR-,0! FORT WAYNE, HWDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE P G: H COI IPANY, OII' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 01' ILLINOIS.

nan. motion.

Application fled was so, 1024. semi ll'o. 744,545,

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, Rommns A. Bum, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wane, in the county of Allen and 5 State'of ndiana, have invented certain new and useful-1m rovements in Rail Anchors, of which the ollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for preventmg the longitudinal creep of railroad 10 rails, these devices being commonly called rail anchors, anti-creepers or rail stays.

.One of theobjects of myinvention is the provision of a .rail anchor of simple and compact construction, requiring a minimum 16 amount of metal, inexpensive to manufactime, which will maintain a reliable holdon the rail as against thextendency of the device to become loosened by vibration or other disturbing influences, and which may be 20 uickly'and conveniently ut in place on t e ra l, or removed there em, if occasion further object of my inventionis the provision 0f1a 'rail anchor so constructed,

feral times without impairing its holding I power.

It is another ob'ect of my invention to increase the grip o the device on the rail ltzisanother ob'ect ofmy invention to rovide a rail" am or so, constructed that 6.5 it will have a very substantial and efiectiye foot-piece to'bear against the sideofa tie,

or the like, without,"how'ever, appreciably increasing the amountof-nie'tal in the de- (iiknotherl h nst ea' rai -anc or so co rn cannot be accidentally off the rail also so constructed that there w ll be no parts projecting any substantial distanceat object of invention is to prothat it may. be removed and replaced sevthe longitudinal creep of railroad ,rails in;

my invention is the obliquely on the rail base or'to tilt out of its normal vertical lane will only serveto cted that it' bein eda advw .engagethe'respective top either end of the device, above the rail base flanges to cause an obstruction.

A further ob3ect of my invention is to provide av ra l anchor havin all the advantages abovenoted and wxich maybe formed in one piece from a bar of resilient material.

The invention consists in the novel constructions, arrangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above-stated objects and such other ob sets as will appear from the-.follow ng escriptlonof a preferred embodirnent illustrated in the accompanying drawm s wherein,- Y

1g. 1 1s a persgective' view 'of a rail anchor embodying t e grinciples of my invention apphed ma agmentaryportion of a rail base;

Fig. 2 is aside elevational view of the anchor show in dottedlines its first po- II sition and lin'es its second position in the application'of theanchor to therail Fig. is a side elevational view of the anchor showing in dotted lines. its third position in its application to the rail base and showing in full lines its-. final position on the railbase; and

Fig. 4 is end elevationalfview of theanchor showing it positioned ,on' the'railbase and against a tie. v 1

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views;

Referring now to the draw' i will-be noted, that the embodiment erein illu'strated isformed of'a' bar of resilient steel formed so as to provide a strai l t-portion 8 adapted to extend transverse y under a rail base and having at one end an upwardly extending return .dissosed arm 9 and at its otherend an upwar ly extending angularly disposed arm 10; The arm 9 is provided with a the end-wall 11 of which provides a bead surface adapted to enizge the vertical ge 12 of the rail base nge 12.- The. upper wall of the said recess is defined by an inwardly extendiiifi relativelylwide lip'13.nnd the lowerfw v is definedflby a -narrow lip 14,- saidjlips and t'tom surfaces 12-ma 12- of the base" flange 12 when? tiled-device 'is' in gripping osition on'the The arm 10 is provided with a recess having a bearing surface 15 which is adapted to engage the verti-- cal edge 16 of the rail base flange 16. The arm 10, above the surface 15, 18 provided with an inwardly extending lip 17 which is adapted to engage. the top surface 16 of the base flange 16 when the device is in gripping position on the rail. The arm 10 on its inner side below the bearing surface 15 is also rovided with an inclined surface 18 whi is adapted to ride over the edge of the rail base flange 16 as the device is applied to or removed from the rail, as will be resently explained.

e several parts of the device are so formed that the normal distance between the bearing surfaces 11 and 15, represented by the line :12 Fi 2, is considerably less than the width of t e rail base to which the device is to be applied, while the distance between the inner edge of the lip. 17 and the bight 19 between the arm 9 and the transverse portion 8, represented by the line 3 Fi 2; also the distance between the inner f ce of the lip 14 and the bight 20 between the arm 10 and the transverse portion 8, represented bv the line 2 Fig. 2, are eater than the width of the rail base to w 'ch the device is to be applied. The lines :12 and z are applied to the full-line representation in Fig. 2, whereas line y is applied to the dotted line re resentation to more clearly show the len indicated by this line with relation to t e widthof the rail-base.

In a plying the device to the rail the device is rought into a position substantially as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 with the arm 9 hooked over one of the rail base flanges, in the present showing over the base flange 12, the edge of said base flange extending into the bight 19. "The lip 17 will now readily clear the outer edge of the base flange 16 so that the end of the device carrying the arm .10 may be raised to bring the transverse portion 8'substantially parallel with the rail base. The device may now be shifted laterally on the rail base to bring the edge of the base flange 16 into the bight 2O whereupon thelip 14 will clear the edge of the base flange 12 in the manner shown in full lines in Fig. 2, so as to permit the device to be moved to the dotted line position of Fig. 3. By striking the up er end of the arm 10 with a sledge or the li e, the end of the device carrying said arm 10 ma be forced down, the inclined surface 18 riding down over the edge 16 of the base flan 16 forces the arms 9 and 10 apart until the aring surface 15 engages the vertical ed e 16 of said base flange and the recessed en of arm 9 is in firm engagement with the to, bottom and vertical surfaces of the base anti: 12, the final position of the device on rail base being as shown in full .quently, increase their 1,eea,71a

lines in Figs. 1 and 3. In Fig. 4, the device is shown as abutting against a tie 21 and being adapted to prevent ereepa e of the rail in the direction indicated by t e arrow.

The upwardly extending arms 9 and 10 are quite short and since the distance between the bearing surfaces 11 and 15 is substantially less than the width of the rail base, it will be obvious that the device, in being applied to the rail, is placed under a very considerable tension or strain, consequently, the arms exert a powerful grip on the edges of the respective rail base flanges. As the end of the device carrying the arm 10 is forced down relatively to the rail base, the inclined surface 18 in riding over the edge of the base flange 16 tends toproduce a furrow or groove in the base flange and interfitting vertical ridges and grooves are formed in the co-engagmg surfaces of the bearing 15 and the edge of said base flange. The powerful grip of the device on the rail and the character of the coengaging surfaces of the bearing 15 and the base flange 16 are ample to prevent any slippage of the device longitudinall of the rail in either direction notwithstan ing the disturbing influences to which a device of this kind is subjected such, for exam le, as the passage of heavy rolling stoc and changeable weather conditions. It will be obvious that any tendency of the device to be forced obliquely on the rail base will only tend to increase the distance between the bearing surfaces 11 and 15 and, conseip upon the edges of the respective rail fise flanges. Since the lips 13 and 14 enga e the respective top and bottom surfaces 0 the base flange 12 and the lip 17 engages the top surface of the base flange 16, all tendency for the device to tilt out of its normal vertical plane is reduced to a minimum. However, any tendency for the device to tilt out of its vertical plane must necessarily be accompanied by a tendency for the lip 14 to ride up into engagement with the vertical edge 12 of the base flange 12 which would produce a greater strain in the device due to forc' further apart the bearing surfaces 11 an 15 with the consequent result'that the devic'e gxerts a greater gripping action on therail ase.

The device is of very simple and compact construction requiring a minimum amount of metal and may be inexpensivel manufactured in one piece from a bar 0 suitable resilient metal. The device is adapted to prevent longitudinal creep of rails in either direction. t may be applied on a rail base from either side, in other words, it is immaterial which flange of the rail base the return disposed arm 9 is hooked over. The device can only be applied to a rail in one way and it may be conveniently, quickly fee a any fallin ums and re rl a lied b an ordinary track labor 'br b iipa ibl otf a spike. The device may be readily removed from the rail by forcing upwardly the end carrying the angularl disposed arm 10 which may be done eit er by prying upwardly that end j of the device while the rail .base flange 16" is tap ed with a hammer adjacent the arm 10 or y striking theunder side of the left end of the device with a sledge or the like.

The device may be reapplied to a rail, in rfact, it may be remove and replaced several times without impairing its holding power.

- It will'be noted that the transversely extending portion '8 of the device is disposed a substantial-distance below the base of the rail, in other .words, there is a substantial space between the upper side of the portion 8 and the under side of the rail base, which arrangement results in a substantial and effective footpiece to bear against the side of the tie and which is obtained with practically no appreciable increase 'inthe amount 25 of metal in the device; No part of the device projects any substantial distance abovethe rail base flanges; therefore, the device oflers practically no obstruction to interfere with track-work or over which trackmen or trainmen mightstumble. The device cannot he accidentally knocked ofi the rail by object or a misapplied blow from a sle ge as in driving a nearby spike,

' because in loosening the grip of the device on the rail the force must be such as to rearm 10' being to the rail base.

I do not intend tolimit m invention to the details-of construction s own and described, exce t only in so far as certain of the appende claims are specifically so limited, as it will be obvious that modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention.

I claim:

forced upwardly relatively 1. A rail anchor comprising means 1 adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having upwardly extending return disposed arm means at one end and upwardly extending angularly disposed arm means at the other end, said arm means having bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges of the respective rail base flanges and being so arranged that the distance normally between said bearing surfaces is less than the width of-the rail base.

2. A one-piece railanchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having an upwardly extending return disposed arm at one end and an angularly dispesed arm at the other end, said arms having bearing surfaces adated to grip the edges cf the respective rail ase 'ing surfaces adapted to grip the e flanges, said arms being so arranged that the distance normally between said bearing lsurfaces is less than the width of the rail ase.

3. A rail anchor comprising means adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having upwardly extending vreturn disposed 'arm means at one end and upwardly extending angularly disposed arm means at the other end, said arm.means having bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges of the respective rail base flanges and being. so arran d that the distance normallyl between sai bearing surfaces is less than t e width of the rail base, said arm means at one end having lip means adapted'to bear on the top surface of the adjacent rail base flange, for the purpose specified, a

4. A one-piece rail anchor formedof resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having an upwardly extending. re-

turn disposed arm at one end and an. angurail base flange, or the purpose specified.

5. A railanchor comprising meansadapted to extend transversely under a rail base-.100

and having upwardly extending return dis posed arm means at one end and. upwardly extending angularly disposed arm means at the other end, said arm means 'havinf bearthe respective rail base flanges and being so arranged that the distance normally between said bearing surfaces is less than the width of the rail base, each of said arm means having lip means adapted to bear on the top surface of the adacent rail base flange, for the purpose speci ed.

es of 6. A one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material. and comprising a portion adaptedto extend transversely under a rail base and having an upwardly extending return disposed arm at one end and an angularly disposed arm at the other end, said arms having bearing surfaces adapted to ip the edges of the respective rail base anges, said armsrbeing so arranged that the distance normally between said bearing surfaces is less than the width ofthe rail base, each of said arms having alip adapted to bear on the to surface of the adjacent rail base flange, or the purpose specified."

'2'. A rail anchor comprisingmeansadapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having upwardly extending return disposed arm means at one end and upwardly extending angnlarly disposed arm means at silient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having an upwardly extending return disposed arm at one end and an angularly. disposed arm at the other end, said arms having. bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges ofthe respective rail base flanges, said arms being so arranged that.

the distance normally between said bearin surfaces is less than the width of the rail base, one of said arms having spaced lips adapted to engage the respective top and,

bottom surfaces of the adjacent rail base flange, for the purpose ecificd.

9. A rail anchor comprising means adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having upwardl extending arm means at its respective en s'. which are provided with bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges of the respective rail base flanges, said arm means beingso arranged that the distance normally between said bearing-surfaces is less than the width of the rail base, the arm means at one end having lip means adapted to engage the respective to and bottom surfaces of the adjacent rai base flange and thearm means at the other end having lip means adapted to bear on the top surface of the rail base flange adjacent thereto but being open at the bottom'to permit the bearing surfaces of the anchor to exert a maximum gripping force .on the rail base, for the purpose specified.

10. A oneiece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversel under a rail base and havin an upwar ly extending arm at each en said arms having bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges of the I respective-rail base flanges ,-said arms being so arranged that the distancewnonnally between said bearing surfaces is less than the width of the rail base, one of said arms having spaced lips adapted to engage the respective top and bottom surfaces ofthe adjacent railbase flange and the other of-said armshaving a lip adapted to bear on the top surface of the. rail base flange adjacent thereto but being o nat the bottom to permit the bearing su aces of the anchor to exert a maximum gripping force on'the rail base, for

the PHI'POSQSPGCIfiGd.

11. A rail anchor comprising means adapted to extend transverse y an or a rail grip the edges of base and having upwardly extending return disposed arm means at one end and upwardly extending angularly disposed arm means at the other end, said arm means having bearing surfaces adapted to grip 'the edges of the respective rail base flanges and being so arranged'that the distance, normally between said bearing surfaces is less than the width of the rail base, the arm means at one end having lip means adapted to engage the respective top and bottom surfaces of the adjacent rail base flangeand the arm means at the other end havin lip means ada ted to bear on the top surface of the rail ase flange adjacent thereto but being open at the bottom to permit the said bearing surfaces to exert a maximum gripping force on the rail base, for the purpose specified.

12. A one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having an upwardly extending return disposed arm at one end and an angularly disposed arm at the other end, said arms having bearing surfaces adapted to one of said arms having spaced lips adapted to engage the respective ,top and bottom surfaces of the adjacent rail base flange and the other of said arms having a lip adapted to bear on the top surface of the rail base flange adjacent thereto but being open at the bottom to permit the said bearing surfaces to exert a maximum gripping force on the rail base, for the purpose specified.

13. A rail anchor com risin means adapted toextend transverse y un er a rail base and having upwardly extending return disposed arm means at one end and upwardly extending angularly disposed arm means atthe other end, said arm means having bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges of the respective rail base flanges and being so arranged that when the bearing surface on said return disposed portion is in engagement with the edge of one'of the rail base flanges, the angularly disposed arm means with its bearing surface extends above and over the other rail base flange whereby the end of the device having said last-named arm means must be forced down relativel to the rail base to bring the bearing sur ace thereon into en agement with the edge of the base flange a jacent thereto. I

14. A one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having'an upwardly extending return disposedarm at one end and an angu-' larly disposed, arm at the other end, said arms having bearing surfaces adapted to t e respective rail base flanges, said arms being so arranged that when the bearing surface on saidreturn disposed portion is in engagement with the edge of one of the rail base flanges, the angularly disposed arm with its bearing surface extends above and over the other rail base flange whereby the end of the device having said last-named arm must be forced down relatively to the rail base to bring the bear= ing surface thereon into engagement with the edge of the base flange adjacent thereto.

15. A rail anchor comprising means adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having upwardly extending arm means at one end thereof and upwardly ex- "tending arm means at the other end thereof,

' with the edge of the base flange adjacent theretoand then the opposite end of the device is forced down relatively to the rail baseto bring the bearing surface on the secend-named arm means into en agement with the edge of the base flange a jacent to 1t.

16. one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having an upwardly extending arm' at one end thereof and an upwardly extending arm at the otherend thereof, said arms g ll having bearing surfaces adapted to grip the turn disposed arm means at one en edges of the respective rail base flanges, said arms and bearing surfaces being so arranged that in applying the device to a rail the firstnamed arm is hooked over one rail base flange and the device shifted laterally to bringthe edge of the other base flange into the blght between the second-named arm and the transversely extending portion, the hearing surface on the first-named arm being then brought-into engagement with the edge of the base flan adjacent thereto and then the o posite en of the device is forced down relatlvel to the rail base to brin the bearing sur ace on the second-name am into gement with the edge of the base flange ad acent to it. y y

17. A rail anchor com risin means adapted to extend transve y an or a rail base and having upwardly extending re and upwardly extending angularly disposed arm means at the other end, said arm means having bear surfaces ada ted to "grip the 8 i o respective base bring .said arm means beingso a said arm means and bearing surfaces being so arranged that in applying the device to a rail the return disposed arm means is hooked over one rail base flange and the deviceshifted laterally to bring the edge of the other base flange into thebight between the angularly disposed arm means and the transversely extendin means, the bearing surface on the return isposed arm means being then brought into enga ement with the edge of the base flange a jacent thereto and then the opposite end of the.

deviceis forced down relatively to the rail base to bring the bearing surface on the angularly disposed armmeans into engage-' ment with the edge of the base flange ad a'- centtoit. i

18. A one-piece rail anchor formed. of resilient material and comprising a. portion adapted to extend transversel under a rail base and having an upwar extending return disposed arm at one end and an upwardly extending angularly disposed arm at the other end, said arms havingbearing surfaces adapted to rip the edges of the respective rail. base bearing surfaces being so arranged that in anges, said arms and.

applyin" the device to a rail the return dISPOSG arm is hooked over one rail base flange, and the device shifted laterally to the edge of the otherbase fl e into the ight between the angularly dlsposed arm and the transversly extending ortion the bearing surface on the return arm being then brought into enga ment with the edge of the base flange a jacent thereto and then they opposite end of the device is forced down relatively to the rail base to bring thebearing surface on the anv arly disposed arm into engagement with the edge of the base flange adjacent to it.

19. one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversel under a rail base and having an upwar y extending arm .at each end, said arms having bearing surfaces adapted-to grip the edges of the respective rail base flanges, said arms being so arranged that the distance normally between said bearing surfacesis less than the width of therail base while the distance between each bearing surface and the bight' between the arm on the opposite end of the device and said transversely extending por- {3:81; is greater than the width of the rail -20. A rail anchor 023M means adapted to extend-transve y un er a rail base and having upwardly extending return disposed arm means at one end and upwardly. extending an Ill means at the other on said am meanshavv ing beari surfaces adapted to grip the the fl edges of respective rail base rranged that the distance normally between said bearing surfaces is less than the width of the rail base while the distance between each bearing surface and the bight between the arm means on the op osite end of the device and said transverse y extending means is greater than the width of the rail base.

21. A one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and having an upwardly extending return dis osed arm at one end and an angularly isposed armat the other end, said arms having bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges of the respective rail base flanges, said arms being so arranged that the distance normally between said bearing surfaces is less than the width of the rail base while the distance between each bearing surface and the bight between the arm on the op osite end of the device and said transverse y extending ortion is greater than the width of the rail base.

22. A rail anchor com rising means adapted to extend transverse y under a rail base and having upwardly extending arm means at one end provided with a bearin surface adapted to grip the edge of one o the rail base flanges and with upper and lower lip means adapted to engage the res ective top and bottom surfaces of said ange, said transverse means having upwardly extending arm means at the other end provided with a bearing surface adapted to rip the edge of the other rail base flange and with lip means adapted to engage the top surface of said last-named flange, said arm means being so arran ed that the distance normally between sai bearing surfaces is less than the width of the rail base while the distances between said lower li means and the bi ht formed by said secon -named means wit said transverse means and between said third-named lip means and the bight formed by said first-named arm means with said transverse means are greater than the width of said rail base.

23. A one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversel under a rail base and having an upwar ly extending arm at one end provided with a bearing surface adapted to grip the edge of one of the rail base flanges and with upper and lower lips adapted to engage the r ective to and bottom surfaces of said flhnge, sai transverse portion having an upwardly extending arm at the other end provided with a bearin surface adapted to grip the edge of the ot er rail base flange and with a 11p adapted to engage the top surface of said last-named flange, said arms being so arran ed that the distance normally between sai bearin surfaces is less than the width of the rail asewhile the distances between said lower 1i and the bight formed by said second-name arm with said transverse portion and between said third-named 1i and the bight formed by said first-name arm with said transverse portion are greater than the width of said rail base.

24. A rail-anchor comprisin means adapted to extend transversely un er a rail base and having upwardly extending return disposed arm means at one end provided with a bearing surface adapted to grip the edge of one of the rail base flan es and with up per and lower lip means a apted to engage the respective top and bottom surfaces of said flange, s'aid transverse means having upwardly extending angularly disposed arm means at the other end provided with a bearing surface adapted to grip the edge of the other rail base flange and with 11p means adapted to engage the top surface of said last-named flange, said arm means being so arranged that the distance normally between said bearing surfaces is less than the width of the rail base while the distances between said lower lip means and the bight formed by said second-named arm means with said transverse means and between said third-named lip means and the bight formed by said first-named arm means with said transverse means are greater than the width of said rail base.

25. A one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion adapted to extend transversel under a rail base and having an upwar y extendiig.

return disposed arm at one end provid with a bearing surface adapted to grip the edge of one .of the rail base flanges and with upper and lower lips adapted to enga e the respective top and bottom surfaces 0% said flange, said transverse portion having an upwardly extending an arly disposed arm at the other end provided with a bearing surface adapted to grip the edge of the other rail base flange and with a lip adapted to engage the top surface of said last-named flange, said arms being so arran ed that the distance normally between said ea surfaces is less than the width of the ra' base having bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges of the respective rail base flanges said arm means being so arranged and sai respective bearing surfaces being so located device to the rail there is a substantial space between the rail base. and said transverse means.

adapted to extend transversely underza rail base and having an upwardly extendingreturn disposed arm at one end and an angularly disposed'arm at the other end; said arms having bearing surfaces adapted to grip the edges of the respective rail base flanges, said arms being so arranged and sand respectivebearlng surfaces belng sov located thereon that the distance normally between said bearing'snrfaces is less than the width of the rail base and after application of the device to the rail there is a substantial space between the verse portion. p v

28. A rail anchor comprising means adapted to extend transversely un er a rail base and provided at one end with an arm adapted to be engaged with one'flange of a rail base and provided at the other end with an arm adapted to be moved vertically into operative engagements with the opposite of said arm and restrained from an rail; base and said a trans flange of said base; said arms being so disposed with relation to each other as to be spread apartduring said upward movement P preciable inward spring movement 0 said arm when the anchor reaches its normal 1 I V J operative position on the rail. 27. A one-piece rail anchor formed of resilient material and comprising a portion 29. A rail anchor comprising means adapted to extend transversely under a rail base and provided at opposite ends with rail base gripping meansjadapted to be brought into normal gripping engagement with the rail 'base by vertical movement of the anchor; said gr1pping means beingso disposed' with relation toeach other as to be spread apart'during the application of the.

device to a railand to be brought to their normal grippin engagement- Wi% the rail.

. 30. A I rail anchor comprisin means adapted to'extend transversely un er a rail base and "having inwardly extending arms adapted tobe distorted into gripping engagement with the vertical edges of said base at opposite sides of the rail, said arms being so arranged that the anchor, when'in position without snapping.

its normal 'ap lied osition' on a rail, is.

subjected to $11 stantlally its maximum distortion. v

ROLANDIS A. BLAIR. 

